Conversation from O'dark-thirty

From an afternoon at the park, when it used to be warmer in these parts

We have an early riser in our home - but I am not complaining because it is one-on-one time and I get a special peek at the window in this little heart.  Here's a snippet of a conversation that happened this morning, at O'dark-thirty {before the coffee was brewing anyway...}

"Mom, was I born yet in 2002?"

 

"No, not yet."

 

"Was I in your tummy then?"

 

"No, not even that yet."

 

"Oh, so I didn't even exist.  I was just a requested prayer at that time."

 

"Yes, love, that's what you were.  And now you are answered and I am so thankful for that!"

Knowing the difference...{looking for answers}

A question has been consuming me for the last several weeks.
I'm hoping my theologically-minded friends {those grounded in the Word of God} can help give me new food to chew on and pray over.

How does one know the difference between

 stepping out in faith
and
waiting on the Lord?

Farm down the road from a possible acreage at sunset

Something we have been praying about for years has availed itself of becoming a reality.

This something we have been praying about is a vision for our family which we believe the

 Lord has pressed into our hearts.

 

We've been watching and waiting.  For years.

 

It gets a little muddled in the fact that to jump on this opportunity we would be taking a financial risk in the form of debt.  We are crystal clear what the Word says about debt.  We have worked very hard, with the help of the Lord, to be free from the entanglement of debt.  So, does one continue to wait until the numbers say 'go for it' and we feel as though we wouldn't be infringing on the Lord's provision by not accumulating debt...or does one say 'we've been praying about this for years, the Lord will provide'?

 

I will tell you there is no peace in moving forward without closing the doors of this home behind us.  Who knows if this is our lack of faith or the answer to our prayer?

 

If you have wisdom to share we'd sure be grateful to hear it. 

For now I'm back to painting in the hopes of hanging a

 'For Sale' sign in front of our beloved little farm-in-the-city.

Look Both Ways

A quick peek out the front windows of our little-farm-in-the-city might reward you with a glimpse of our city-chick, Little Red.  She prefers pavement over dirt and grass these days.

Poor Tarver, he's had to herd her numerous times away from the neighbor's front porch to her unexciting little chicken yard.

 

Turning your head to the back windows you breath might be swept away at views such as this.

I keep wondering how we can be so blessed to enjoy this tapestry of Creation colors from the comfort of our own home?  And I also wonder why Little Red would want to leave the backyard when this is her view. 

 

Chickens don't appreciate much, do they?

The Only Political Sign That Matters is in My Yard

Remember, America?

Why you have been SO blessed ...

Who it is that has blessed you ...

The Truth you were founded on ...

 

Because this really is all that matters when we vote on Tuesday.

Pray and Vote.

 

May the One True God be Lord of our country once again.

 

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD

-Psalm 33:12

 

{And you have sidewalk chalk and a mission field in your neighborhood, too, yes?  Would you be willing to take a stand and be a Daniel and get the message out to your neighbors?}

A Parenting Secret

Truly, they teach me far more than I could ever teach them.

 

 

Preacher Boy

Since the sweet age of 19-months, Ryland has held regular church service for his collection of Little People.

He continues to preach even into his advanced years.

The good news:  Ryland reported that the Little People Mayor accepted Jesus as his Savior during the sermon.  The bad news is that Maggie slipped on the ice on the way to church and broke her leg.  But, the other good news is that since the Little People Mayor is now a Believer he went to visit her at the hospital.

A lot of drama happens in our home.

The bad news: Toward the end of Ryland's sermon, the Fisher Price Little People City was invaded by Legos Star Wars characters.

All the Little People surrendered without event but . . .

The Preacher got sidetracked and decided that he really was more interested in playing Legos than finishing his sermon.

So then the Preacher's Mom had to take pictures of her Christmas Tree Ornaments instead of Little People.

And they all lived happily ever after!

Caroling, caroling . . .

Last night, a small but mighty group from our church visited the nursing homes here in town and went Christmas Caroling.

It was so much fun and a great feeling to bring so many smiles.

Listening to the boys

Let me just start out here with a confession of gratitude - I am so thankful for my God who, in His grace, grabbed hold of my life and who has gently led me, taught me, and disciplined me over these years.  He has given to me wonderful friends and mentors who have poured their life experience into me so that I may follow the godly path that they have blazed.  I'm so thankful that He showed me His desire for me as a wife and mother, to be firmly rooted in my home and branch out from there.  I'm so thankful for the wonderful husband He has given me and the incredible sons with whom He has blessed us.  I'm thankful that He knows best a woman's ministry center is her home - had I not learned this lesson many years ago I may have been in an office this very morning, crunching numbers on a ten-key, and missed out on an ordinary- but precious- conversation.  Reflecting on these beautiful, ordinary moments between my sons and with my sons has filled my heart to overflowing with gratitude for my Lord.  Truly, truly He is the giver of every good and perfect gift. {James 1:17}

Ryland: "Langston, do you feel like God is calling you to be a Pastor when you grow up?"

Langston: "No.  I think He is calling me to be a man."

Ryland: "Oh.  Do you think you'll be able to make any money doing that?"


'. . . and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.' Titus 2:4&5

Thankful to be at home today loving on the most important people in my world.